The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them,and they were left to care for themselves.

 

In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. By 1915, membership grew to 5,000; by 1936, membership was almost 200,000. 

Since then, the VFW's voice had been instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, creating a GI bill for the 20th century, the development of the national cemetery system and the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, VFW won a long-fought victory with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America's active-duty service members, and members of the Guard and Reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The VFW also has fought for improving VA medical centers services for women veterans.

Besides helping fund the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II and Women in Military Service memorials, the VFW in 2005 became the first veterans' organization to contribute to building the new Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which opened in November 2010. 

 

Annually, the nearly 2 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliaries contribute more than 8.6 million hours of volunteerism in the community, including participation in Make A Difference Day and National Volunteer Week.  From providing over $3 million in college scholarships and savings bonds to students every year, to encouraging elevation of the Department of Veterans Affairs to the president's cabinet, the VFW is there.

In 1965, a handful of veterans banded together with the idea to form a VFW Post in Holden.  Veterans from Holden and surrounding communities were contacted, many of which expressed considerable interest.  On January 22, 1966, Holden Memorial Post 5844 became a chartered organization of the Veterans of Foreign Wars with 54 members. On April 18, 1966, the Post's Auxiliary became a chartered organization with 25 members.

 

 

January 23, 1966

James F. Allgood	Theodore W. Geer	Harold C. Myers
Glen F. Alvis	Charles E. Griggs	William A. Page
Melvin G. Anderson	Jackie D. Hall	J. Paul Pirch
Arthur L. Barnett (Officer)	Lawrence E. Hancock (Officer)	Tommy L. Rymer
Elmer L. Blum	Donald L. Hartwell	William V. Sexson
Herbert E. Boyer	Fredrick H. Heiman	Varner N. Shippy
George H. Bush	Lawrence W. Holland	Charles B. Shore
Claude T. Bradbury	Ernest L. Hoover (Officer)	Virgil L. Sisk
Joseph W. Burden	Gary W. Jones (Commander)	Bill W. Snyder
Hubert V. Byler	James D. Kane	Chester E. Sparks
Robert G. Cantrell	Louis K. Leavy	Sam A. Stout
E. Benjamin Cast	Vern R. Lloyd	Herby Thomason
Albert R.Copeland	Leonard B. Loveall	Robert R. Thurman
Paul S. Courtenay	Samuel M. Manford	James T. Watson
Robert L. Durrett	Charles E. Martin	Edward R. Tuprin
Charles E. Edwards (Officer)	Dennis W. Maupin (Officer)	Ben Van Sant
Louis C. Eldredge	Donald g. Miller	Leslie A. Watterson
Leo F. Grethen	James H. Murphy (Officer)	Lawrence J. Zvacek

Agnes M. Alvis	Joan Hall (Officer)	Dorothy E. Page
Shirley Barnett	Ruby Hillsman	Helen M. Pirch
Georgia M. Blum	Mary Lee Hoover (Officer)	Patsy Lee Rymer (Officer)
Peggy L. Bradbury (Officer)	Theresa C. Huber	Betty J. Sexson (Officer)
Dorothy M. Brown (Officer)	Myrtle J. Jones (President)	Minnie B. Smith (Officer)
Peggy S. Bush (Officer)	Sylvia Mary Leavy	Eva Talley
Maggie Dooly (Officer)	Peggy Maupin	Dorothy Turpin (Officer)
Sarah F. Geer	Wanda Faye Miller	Margaret A. Wood
Carmella Griggs